Special ExhibitionsAlberta's Last Sea Dragon: Solving an Ancient Puzzle

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How do palaeontologists unravel the mysteries of prehistoric life based only on fossil evidence? Using interactives, photos, and videos, the Royal Tyrrell Museum’s newest exhibit, Alberta’s Last Sea Dragon: Solving an Ancient Puzzle, provides the answer. This exhibit features a new species of 75-million-year-old marine reptile used to explain the scientific process of naming a new, yet extinct, animal, determining its environment, evolution, and possible behaviour.

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Elasmosaurs in their environment

This illustration of Albertonectes by John Bindon depicts two elasmosaurs in the Bearpaw Sea, 75-million years ago.

Preparing the Dragon

Palaeo technician Mark Mitchell spent many hundreds of hours preparing the specimen for research and exhibit.

Mystery Stones

The specimen has several kilograms of rounded, golf ball to softball-sized gastroliths (stomach stones) preserved in the gut area. Were gastroliths used as ballast to improve stability in the water, or to help grind food during digestion?

Another Piece of the Puzzle

Bits of gem quality Ammolite were found in association with the specimen, which was discovered during routine operations at the Korite International Ammolite mine in southern Alberta.

Finding a Sea Dragon

Protective layers of burlap and plaster were applied to the specimen after removing the overburden. When the rock below the jacket was removed, the entire specimen was flipped over to continue the jacketing process.